Verbena plant named ‘Swestrena’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Verbena  plant, substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by its deep pink flowers, with light pink to white linear patches, very early flowering and a habit that is first upright and later strong and spreading.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:Verbena×hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Swestrena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena,botanically known as Verbena×hybrida. The new cultivar is propagatedfrom cuttings resulting from a mutation found in ‘Arbena.’ ‘Arbena’ ispatented as U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,760.

As a result of this finding the present cultivar was created in 2003 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced bycuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a two yearperiod. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US,only in zones 8, 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Verbena. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks oldplants blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a 10.5cm container.

Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colorreferences are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Swestrena,’ and a similarcultivar ‘Swestrena’ ‘Arbena’ Flower shape Closed Flat Flower color Rosyred bleaching with star pattern Rosy red bleaching Branching Very goodGood

The commercial name of the most resembling variety is ‘Tukana Strawberryand Cream.’ The patented name of this variety is ‘Arbena’ and its U.S.Plant Pat. No. is 15,760.

-   The plant:    -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Verbena×hybrida.        -   Parentage.—Mutation of ‘Arbena’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            15,760).        -   Growth habit.—Vigorous, later spreading, decumbent.        -   Plant height.—12-15 cm.        -   Spreading area of plant.—55-85 cm.        -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching            at every node.        -   Number of branches per plant.—32-45.        -   Blooming period.—From April until November.-   The stem:    -   -   Diameter.—2-2.5 mm.        -   Length.—12-20 cm.        -   Shape.—Tetragonal.        -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.        -   Color of the stem.—137C.        -   Length of internode.—9-20 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Length lateral branches.—12-18 cm.-   The foliage:    -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.        -   Shape of blade.—Broadly ovate.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Pubescent. Lower side: Pubescent.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf margin.—Simple incised.        -   Leaf base.—Shortly attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Length.—18-32 mm.        -   Width.—8-15 mm.        -   Depth of incision.—2-3 mm.        -   Number of incisions.—4-12 per leaf.        -   Color.—Upper side: 137B. Lower side: 138A.        -   Pubescence.—Some pubescence is present.        -   Length of petiole.—2-3 mm.        -   Petiole surface structure.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Petiole diameter.—1 mm.        -   Petiole coloration.—144C.-   The bud:    -   -   Peduncle length.—40-70 mm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—1 mm.        -   Peduncle color.—137C.        -   Budsize.—Diameter: 2 mm. Length: 8-12 mm.        -   Budshape.—Elongated and ovate.        -   Bud color.—137C.        -   Sepals.—Color (Upper side): 143C. Color (Lower side): 143C.            Form: Upright. Number: 5, fused. Length: 7-9 mm. Width:            2 mm. Shape: Elongated. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire.-   The flower:    -   -   Flower diameter.—18-20 mm.        -   Flower height.—17-19 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—14-17 mm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Flower throat color.—155C.        -   Flower shape.—Upright.        -   Inflorescence.—Corymb.        -   Flower-form.—Single, salverform; sessile on terminal            corymbs.        -   Petal colour.—Upper side: From 39B on the edge to a bit            darker than N34B close to the center. A light pink to white            linear stripe on each petal occurs. The color of this stripe            is from 39C to N155C. Lower side: 155C.        -   Eye.—No eye.        -   Overlapping of petals.—Separate.        -   No. of petals.—Gamopetalous, 5 lobed.        -   Petal apex.—Obcordate.        -   Petal base.—Fused.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Size of the petal.—Length: 7-9 mm. Width: 5-8 mm.        -   Inflorescence.—Length: 20-40 mm. Diameter: 40-50 mm.        -   Calyx length.—9-12 mm.        -   Calyx diameter.—3 mm.        -   Anthocyanin pigmentation of Calyx limb.—Absent.        -   Color of the calyx.—137C.        -   No. of flowers per inflorescence.—20-40.        -   No. of corymbs per plant.—120-180.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Bloom time of one inflorescence.—New florets continue to            open in one corymb over a period of 13 days.        -   Lastingness of one flower.—2-4 days.-   The reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther            length: 1 mm. Anther color: 144B. Pollen amount: No pollen.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 2.0-2.4 cm.            Stigma shape: Bi-lobed. Stigma color: 144B. Style length:            1.9 cm. Style color: 144C. Ovary color: 144C.-   Seeds: No fruit or seeds are observed.-   Roots:    -   -   Type of roots.—Fibrous, color 155C. Roots start to grow on            every part of the stem that contacts the soil, so not only            at the nodes.-   Physiological and ecological characteristics: Tolerates temperatures    ranging from 0 to 38 degrees Celsius.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Swestrena,’ assubstantially illustrated and described herein.